A preliminary investigation reveals that an 80-year-old man was driving a 1976 dump truck on the highway when he drifted off the roadway and crashed into a tree
Placerville, CA – An elderly driver was hospitalized with major injuries after being involved in a single-vehicle accident in Placerville on Tuesday afternoon, according to the California Highway Patrol.
The collision took place on Highway 193 near Texas Canyon Road at about 4 p.m. on January 20.
A preliminary investigation reveals that an 80-year-old man was driving a 1976 dump truck on the highway when he drifted off the roadway and crashed into a tree.
The California Highway Patrol along with the El Dorado County Fire, Garden Valley Fire, CAL FIRE and Growlersburg Conservation Camp personnel responded to the incident and rescued the driver from the wreckage. The driver was the sole occupant of the vehicle.
The medics airlifted the driver to Sutter Roseville for treatment of major injuries. The CHP report indicates that the driver was not wearing a seatbelt at the time of the accident.
The California Highway Patrol officers are still looking into the incident as they work to establish the cause of the collision.
California continues to experience a high number of vehicle collisions each year. According to the California Highway Patrol’s Statewide Integrated Traffic Records System (SWITRS), there were over 2,000 fatal crashes and nearly 300,000 total collisions reported statewide in 2024. Rear-end and multi-vehicle collisions on major freeways contribute significantly to injuries and hospitalizations.
Drivers are reminded to maintain safe following distances, reduce speeds during low-light conditions, and avoid distractions while driving. Early-morning commuters should stay alert on busy freeways and always wear seatbelts to reduce the risk of serious injuries in multi-vehicle collisions.
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